‘Looper’ nabs $37 million overseas

But huge China take remains in question

Despite conflicting B.O. estimates for “Looper’s” opening weekend at the Chinese B.O., producers Endgame Entertainment and DMG report that the time-travel actioner still came in No. 1 worldwide, with a cume just shy of $62 million globally through Oct. 3.

“Looper” transported nearly $25 million Stateside as of Oct. 3 (via Sony-TriStar), and just shy of $37 million internationally.

The kerfuffle over B.O. figures for “Looper” is due to the pic’s performance in China: DMG — the Chinese co-producer and distributor — contends that “Looper” made roughly $24 million locally, though an article from the state-run Xinhua news agency reported estimates for “Looper” closer to $5 million.

The film’s final weekend grosses from China won’t be available until after the country’s Golden Week holiday ends Oct. 9, but Endgame reps insist the $20 million-plus local gross for “Looper” is accurate based, in part, on the pic’s Friday-to-Saturday expansion. On Sept. 29, “Looper” more than tripled its screen count in China to north of 3,000.

The film, which stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Bruce Willis, bowed day-and-date with the U.S. in six other international territories, including Russia, where the pic tallied $4.5 million, the U.K. ($3.9 million) and Australia ($3 million).

In Brazil, “Looper” failed to hit $1 million, landing in second place behind Universal’s “Ted,” which grossed $1.2 million in its third frame.

“Looper” will struggle to stay competitive in Brazil, Blighty and China as Fox’s “Taken 2″ bowed there — along with 24 other overseas territories — over the Oct. 3-7 frame. France helped kickstart the “Taken 2″ run, with a stellar opening day gross (Oct. 3) of $1.8 million.